new front suspension. (Again)

Rockcrawler · Post by **Rockcrawler** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:25 pm

well the old suspension worked good but for the tires i wanted to run the axle was to far back so i decided to push it forward (17 inches) to gain clearnce but it was going to be a real pain to move the coil buckets because of the steering box boldge on the driver side. So in my quest to have more buttons to push i put air bags under it. Now i can bump it! here is a pic of the rig with one bag with no air and some in the other one. THe truck is just flexing on the bags!

Rockcrawler · Post by **Rockcrawler** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:26 pm

this is the front with the bags. the pan hard bar is going to change.

Rockcrawler · Post by **Rockcrawler** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:28 pm

the arms are made out of 1/2 thick by 3 inches tall matal and there is a 1/4 thick piece on top!

Rockcrawler · Post by **Rockcrawler** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:29 pm

the air bag at ride hight (hopefully)

Rockcrawler · Post by **Rockcrawler** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:30 pm

the orbital valve all hocked up. (going full hydro!)

Rockcrawler · Post by **Rockcrawler** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 7:31 pm

and the differance between a 44 inch bogger and a 44 inch dick sepec

DBrown · Post by **DBrown** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 8:16 pm

I definatly want to see more. I saw the air bag set up on a rig over at pirate and liked it. did you have to do all the research yourself or did you find a link or write up somewhere? have you flexed it out completely yet?

Post by **Nobody** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 8:42 pm

Holy chit! Nice too see a BII that can play with the best of the best!

So what are you using for air?

Rockcrawler · Post by **Rockcrawler** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 8:50 pm

as for reasearch i just made it up in my mind what i was going to do. we will see how it works. I wont get to drive it for a couple days because i just ordered my ram. the air im going to use im going to copy your compressor idea nobody. I like the way yours turned out. I will take more pics later after i get to play with it. I might have lost some flex but i think it will be worth it. (hopefully)

Post by **Nobody** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 5:58 am

I also wonder about only having the one radius arm to control axle wrap with such big tires. Everything seem ok with that so far? Seems like it might be time for some custom links.

Are you refering to my york? Which powersteering pump are you running?

DBrown · Post by **DBrown** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 8:27 am

I think I speek for all of us when I say I think we need a complete writeup........

EBSTEVE · Post by **EBSTEVE** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 9:14 am

Looks good I have a bit of experience with air bags and it looks like you used some Firestone bags, there are many options based off of the same bolt in pattern that will swap in where those are and give you more travel but it would involve adjusting ride height, mounts or possibly just air pressure.
Acording to Firestone there bags are rated for 100PSI but I have had a few sets up to 150PSI and they were fine but I don't know that I would trust them to do it all the time. I did not notice that you had limiting straps or bump stops but I would highly suggest that you limit each corner to keep the bags from tearing them selves apart.
I am interested to see how well they work, and hold up for you. Did you / are you going to valve it to have side to side adjustment to flatten out on side hills?

Post by **Nobody** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 9:24 am

Here's a thread on pirate you might want to check out.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthre ... anger+body

DBrown · Post by **DBrown** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:47 am

that is the truck I was talking about.

Rockcrawler · Post by **Rockcrawler** » Mon Jan 10, 2005 8:26 pm

yeah these bags have 8 inchs of travel. I mounted them in nclose to get as much flex out of them i can. I run only 40 psi or less i think but not hardly any air to keep the truck up. Im going to run the limiting straps to keep it from pullling apart. I was told that the bags have bump stops already built in. I dont think the arm will be a issue because i have the thing welded in there and braced like crazy. Its also welded to the pumpking and the housing on the driver side so it should hold up and now with the arms being longer there will be less stress on the mount to the frame. I running the stock pump that came with my engion but i have a feeling it wont have the volume to keep up with the ram. but im keeping my fingures crossed.